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Thank you for your recent report about Brenau University, North Georgia College & State University and Piedmont College placement in the rankings in U.S. News & World Report’s 2010 edition of America’s Best Colleges.
However, I did want to point out that the article’s assertion that the schools were rated for "their quality master’s degree programs" is somewhat misleading. Although we believe that Brenau’s master’s degree programs in a wide array of academic disciplines are of the highest quality, the rankings are based on a full range of undergraduate and graduate programs.
Where the confusion arises is in the fact that the publication breaks its rankings into several categories and the category into which Brenau falls is "Best Universities — Master’s." What that means is that 572 institutions evaluated in this category do offer master’s degree programs but few, if any, doctoral programs. There are separate categories for liberal arts colleges and universities that do not offer master’s degrees as well as for larger universities that offer a wide range of doctoral degrees, professional degrees or other "terminal" degrees.
That said, your article’s larger point that several colleges and universities in this community are highly regarded by a national publication is right on the mark, and we at Brenau are extremely proud that for the fifth consecutive year we have been ranked as one of the top 10 best education values the 11-state Southern region in our category.
Ed L. Schrader, Ph.D.
President, Brenau University, Gainesville
Many thanks to all for new Fair Street teachers’ lounge
Thank you to The Times for the story about the extreme makeover our teachers’ lounge received recently. We feel truly appreciated and rejuvenated each time we use it. The people of Blackshear Place Baptist Church certainly have a special place in the hearts of the teachers and staff at our school.
We would also like to acknowledge the contributions of all who are near and dear to the Fair Street family. Everyone involved in this project put many hours and much thought into it.
We at Fair Street love what we do and the children we serve. Our goal is to teach our children to make the world a better place in their own special way. This project is a shining example of those who teach and live that same philosophy.
Kim C. Davis
Assistant principal, Fair Street I.B. World School, Gainesville